Toxic syrup: 2 DGDA officials suspended

Sun Online Desk
24th August, 2017 07:52:53

The Health Ministry has suspended two officials of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for their negligence in dealing with a case filed over manufacturing toxic paracetamol syrup that claimed at least 28 children’s lives in 2009.

Sirajul Haque Khan, secretary of the ministry on Thursday informed the High Court about the suspension appearing before it following a previous order.

The secretary filed an affidavit to the bench of Justice Syed Mohammad Dastagir Hossain and Justice Ataur Rahman Khan seeking unconditional apology for not taking quick action against the two officers for their negligence, reports UNB.

On 21 August, the same bench of the HC summoned the secretary to appear before court on August 23 to explain his inaction against the two officers on the basis of an application filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

According to the order he appeared before the bench and filed an explanation on Wednesday. However, the court did not accept his explanation.

The court directed again him to appear before the bench on Thursday with an appropriate explanation in this regard.

Earlier, twenty-eight children across Bangladesh died from renal failure during the period of June-August in 2009 after consuming paracetamol syrup manufactured by Rid Pharma.

As the death news spread around, the government published notices in national dailies asking the people not to take any drugs manufactured by the company.

A case was filed on August 10, 2009 by then drug superintendent Shafiqul Islam with Dhaka Drug Court against the five accused.